Mechanical tiller



April 2 1935.

H. H. GLASIER MECHANICAL TILLER Filed on. 14, 1952 Patented Apr. 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 14,

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to an implement for breaking, turning and shattering the soil and is herein shown as a self contained motor driven type altho not limited to such and in small sizes may readily be manually propelled. In the motor driven device herein disclosed, all functions are performed unaided by the operator who has merely to guide it.

It is the object of this invention to provide a light, inexpensive implement which is capableof deep tillage and is: designed for parks and gardens or wherever hand spading is practiced and wherever plowing is not the desired method of deep tillage.

These objects, together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by means of the embodiments of my invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a sectional plan and Fig. 3 an end view.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l, a framework is provided which consists broadly of side bars I, brace bars 2 and handle bars 3. At the upper extremity of handle bars 3 are handle grips 4 and at the lower extremity are carrier wheels 5, mounted on axle 55 which spans the lower ends of the parallel handle bars. Swiveled to the inner portions of axle 55, are brace legs 6 which extend backwardly and downwardly and have ground gripping talons at their lower extremities which are held in firm contact with the ground at all times by coil springs I. These gripping feet will readily slide over the ground in a forwardly direction but positively resist any efiort to be moved backwardly.

In the forward section of the frame a motor 3, herein shown as a conventional gas engine, is mounted across the side bars 5. Power from this motor is conveyed from pulley l0 thru V belt 9 to pulley II. An idler pulley 25, controlled by ratchet lever 26 acts as the clutch for applying this power.

Referring also to Fig. 2, pulley II is keyed to shaft l2 which is journalled at either end in hearing blocks I22 which are mounted on side bars I. At the left extremity of shaft I2 is sprocket l3, geared to sprocket l 5 by roller chain I4, the latter being protected by guard ll. Sprocket I5 is keyed to spader axle 33 which is joumalled in bearing blocks 333 mounted on side bars I. By means of the engine and gearing, spader axle 33 is revolved.

Integral with spader axle 33 is the spader arm socket assembly 30 into which are rigidly secured the spader arms 24A. These are hook shaped members, forged of toughened spring steel and 1932, Serial No. 637,733

made further resilient by loops 32 formed close to their attached ends. The ground penetrating ends of the spading arms are pointed and flattened to facilitate piercing and breaking. The arms are arranged in two straight rows set at degrees apart, the first row being oi. stronger and more resilient construction for the reason that it is required to do the. heavy work of breaking out the ground whereas the second row has only to mulch the broken out section of soil.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, on the outer faces of sprockets [5 are the crank pins l6 to which the connecting rods l8 make connection with pins 3| on the propeller legs l9 which are of adjustable length. There may be just one of these legs on each side of the machine as herein shown or there may be a row of them across the rear of machine for the purpose of further stirring the soil. At the lower extremities of the propeller legs are backwardly inclined gripping talons; at the upper end of the legs are formed the slide bars 2| which are supported by guides 22. Parts 2| and 22 are a square fit to insure rigidity of side support.

In the operation of the device, the forward weight is carried by the carrier wheels 6, the brace feet 6 are anchored against the ground and the machine is guided by means of the handle grips 4. The motor 8, thru the intermediate reduction gearing, revolves spader axle 33 and a row of spader arms penetrates the unbroken ground indicated in. the drawing by section lines. In the act of penetrating this ground, the tendency of course is to force the machine backward instead of forcing the spaders into the soil. This tendency is resisted by the bracing foot 6 which prevents the machine from being forced backwards and so therefore the movement of the spading arms must project them into the unbroken soil. As the spading arms revolve, they cleave out a section of ground, carry same around in their embrace and deposit same, in an upside down position, back on the land. As the section of soil falls out of the embrace of the arms as they turn over, it shatters upon striking and is further broken by the passof same is timed with the advance of the machine for the purpose of returning each section of soil to the spot from whence it was removed. As the spader arms enter the position in which they commence to penetrate the unbroken soil, the connecting rod l8, which is pinned to sprocket I 5, is just beginning its forward stroke and consequently drawing the propeller foot forward. On this stroke the propeller foot is non-effective, except as a support for the rear of the machine. The machine therefore, is stationary. The spading arms are revolving and have penetrated the unbroken soil, cleaved out a section and raised it ready for turning and dropping. The connecting rods and propeller feet have been making their forward stroke during these operations and now just as the soil drops from the embrace of the arms, the rods and propeller feet begin their backward stroke which is the effective stroke as the gripping talons then are thrust into ground and the rods acting against the anchored legs, thrust the machine forward. As the machine moves forward and-as the spader arms revolve, the cleaved out section of soil is cut thru by the arms and rolled forward into the position from whence it was torn out. This cutting and rolling action as performed by both sets of spading arms, produces a very fine tilth without creating an actual dust which may often result, when too much high speed action is applied to soil. Dust is undesirable because it packs under the influence of water, a process of cementation, and thus forms a poor seed bed, one in which air is not admitted, thru which tender root hairs cannot penetrate and from which moisture soon evaporates.

Regulation of spading depth is accomplished by adjusting the length of the propeller feet. which also act as rear supports for the machine. By shortening the feet, restraint is removed from the spading arms and the weight of the machine induces them to dig deeper into the ground which continues until the propelling feet again touch a common level with the spading arms. By lengthening the propelling feet, the spading arms of course are forced to a higher plane.

When it is desired to convey the machine from one place to another, the rear end is lifted clear of the ground and the machine is rolled along on carrier wheels 5.

What I claim is: g

1. A mechanically actuated tiller comprising in combination a frame, guide handles, carrier means, legs depending from said frame having talons for intermittent anchoring in ground, a series of rotating ground working tools, reciprocating propeller feet having talons for intermittent anchoring in ground and power means to rotate said tool and reciprocate said feet.

2. A mechanical tiller comprising in combination with motor and transmission, a frame, means to guide said frame. means to support and carry said frame, a pivotally mounted leg depending from said frame said leg having rearwardly and downwardly directed talons, means of insuring constant and positive contact of said talons to the ground, a series of resilient rotary groundworking tools driven by aforesaid motor and transmission, and a propelling and supporting foot having rearwardly anchoring talons actuated by aforesaid motor thru transmission said foot being formed in two sections with adjusting means to permit variable extension of said foot.

3. A mechanical tiller comprising in combination a frame, guide handles, carrier wheels, a rearwardly and downwardly inclined leg with a ground gripping talon at its end for intermittently anchoring in ground, spring means to in sure efficient contact of said talon to ground, a resilient revolvabie ground working tool, a reciprocating propelling and supporting foot for intermittently anchoring in ground and actuating mechanism to cause said ground working tool to revolve and said propelling and supporting foot to reciprocate in a fixed relationship to one another.

4. A mechanically actuated tiller having in combination with a motor, a frame, guide means, carrier means, pivotally mounted leg depending from said frame for intermittently anchoring in ground, a rotary ground working tool journalled to said frame and driven by said motor said tool having a series of resilient crescent shaped spading arms with loops formed toward the attached-ends of said arms and adjustable length propelling feet actuated by aforesaid motor said feet having intermittently anchoring talons at their ground contacting ends.

5. In a mechanically actuated tiller, the combination with a motor of a frame, means for controlling the direction of travel of said frame, means of supporting said frame in fixed relationship to ground, a resilient ground working tool rotated by said motor and ground gripping feet which thrust in opposition to thrust of said rotary ground working tool reciprocated by said motor.

6. A mechanical tiller comprising in combination a frame, guide means, carrier wheels, brace legs pivotally mounted on said frame for intermittent anchoring in the ground, a resilient ground working tool revolvably mounted on said frame with mechanism provided to revolve said tool in the opposite direction to direction of travel of said frame and propeller feet for intermittent anchoring in the ground with mechanical means to cause said feet to reciprocate and thereby intermittently advance said frame.

7. A mechanical tiller comprising in combine tion a frame with carrier wheels forwardly mounted thereon and guide handles extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, pivotally mounted legs depending from said frame with rearwardly and downwardly directed talons at their extremities, means of insuring positive con tact of said legs to the ground, a resilient rotary ground working tool mounted on said frame and consisting of an axle with two straight rows of spading arms mounted thereon, said rows being spaced about ninety degrees apart, said arms being of crescent shape with sharpened ends and loops formed near their base to give resilience, said sharpened ends being inclined forwardly in the direction of travel of aforementioned frame, power means to cause rotation of aforesaid rotary ground working tool, forwardly inclined propelling and supporting feet with rearwardly inclined ground gripping talons, said feet being slidably mounted on aforesaid frame and power actuated means to reciprocate said propelling and supporting feet in a fixed relationship to the rotation of aforementioned ground working tool.

8. A mechanical tiller having a frame with guide means attached thereto and carrier wheels journalled thereon and brace legs depending therefrom, a motor forwardly mounted on said .frame with intermediate reduction gearing and clutch member, a resilient ground working tool revolved by said motor thru said gearing and intermittently anchoring propelling and supporting feet reeiprocated by said motor thru said gearmg.

9. In a mechanical tiller'in combination with a motor and transmission, a frame, guide handles upstanding from said frame, carrier wheels to support the forward portion of said frame, rearwardly mounted ground gripping feet for both the purpose of supporting the rear portion of' said frame and to be reciprocated by aforesaid motor thru aforesaid transmission with the object of thereby advancing the travel of said frame and a resilient rotary ground working tool rotated by said motor thru said transmission said tool being centrally mounted on said frame.

10. In a mechanical tiller, the combination with a motor of a frame, means to guide said frame, means to support and carry said frame, a rotary resilient ground working tool mounted onsaid frame and rotated in opposition to the direction of travel of said frame by means of aforesaid motor, ground gripping means to resist backward travel'ofsaid frame and ground gripping means actuated by aforesaid motor for the purpose of accomplishing intermittent forward travel of said frame.

11. In a mechanical tiller, the combination of a frame, means to guide said frame, means to support and carry said frame motor means, a resilient rotary ground working tool mounted on said frame so as t0 be rotated by said motor means in opposition to the travel of the aforesaid frame and ground gripping feet actuated by aforesaid motor means for the purpose of resisting backward travel and obtaining forward travel of the aforementioned frame.

HAROLD H. GLASIER. 

